Foot valve extractor



ML 3L 1939.

C. GROEN FOOT VALVE EXTRACTOR Filed sept. s, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 1 Mm.. 3L W39. c, GROEN y MAM FOOT VALVE EXTAcToR Filed Sept. 3, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 31, 1939 ATENT ppg FOOT VALVE EXTRACTOR poration of Iowa Application September 3, 1938, Serial No. 228,462

Claims.

lviy invention relates to a foot valve extractor and has particular reference to the provision of a foot valve extractor which enables the valve to be removed from an underground tank without the necessity of digging up the ground or foundation around the tank, and which allows for the easy removal and replacement of the foot valve should repair or cleaning be necessary.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of an extractor mechanism by means of which the foot valve in an underground storage tank can be removed and replaced in a simple and easy manner, with a minimum of effort and without in any Way disturbing the tank ttings or the tank itself or any of the connections to the tank.

It will be understood that the invention refers to valves known as foot valves which are on the intake ends of pipes extending into storage tanks used for the purpose of storing gasoline in nlling stations and the like, this foot valve being a check valve which prevents the return of the fluid back into the tank during the operation of the pumps and after the pumping operation has been discontinued. They are placed at the inlet end of the pipes, usually close to the bottom of the storage tank, and in the past it has been necessary to dig away the foundations or covering for the tank should the valves need replacing and repair, necessitating not only the destruction ofttimes of the concrete roadway or stand adjacent the pump and the replacing of it, but a great deal of labor and expense in connection with the removal and replacement of such covering for the tank. With my improved structure access is had to the foot valve through a pipe leading directly thereto, and the foot valve can be easily removed for repair purposes, cleaning and the like, and replaced when necessary without disturbing the tank, the roadway around it or any of the tank connections.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a foot valve which is suspended in the tank and which is locked in position so that vibration, road shocks and the like are not apt to disturb it or cause the connection vto become broken or out of line thereby interfering with the proper function and operation of the valve.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a foot valve and casing therefor shown in position as applied to a tank;

Figure 2 is a plan View on line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View on line fe-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View on line ii-t of Figure 1 Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View on line 5-5 of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a transverse View, partially in section and partially in elevation, of the wrench used for the removal of the cover plate and the foot valve; and

Figure i is an elevational View of one end of the wrench shown partially in elevation in Figure 1.

Referring now specically to the drawings and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a storage tank I0 is shown having a flange member l l secured thereto which has a projecting part internally threaded and within which the lower end l2 of a pot I3 is threaded. The pot i3 has a projecting portion Ml thereon at one side thereof, also internally threaded, to which an outlet pipe 'l5 is secured leading to the pump or other means of outlet for the uid contained in the tank lil. The body portion of the pot I3 is larger in diameter than the extension l2 and has circumferentially extending spaced seats lii, i6 provided therein at the bottom of the body portion upon which a bridge piece, designated as a Whole as Il, is seated.

The bridge piece ll' has a domeeshaped upper portion it and a lower portion 'I9 with vertical and transverse ribs connecting these upper and lower portions. A pipe 2D is provided which is threaded into the lower portion I9 ofthe bridge member ll at its upper end and which operates as the outlet pipe from the tank Il) and has a foot valve 2l mounted therein at the lower end thereof. The wall of the pot E3 is materially thickened at each of its sides at a point slightly above the upper end of the pipe 2li. These thickened Wall portions have short circumferentially extending channels 22 and 23 therein, with vertical channels 251 and 25 at each side of the pot I3 opening into the circumferential channels 22 and 23 at their bottoms. The pot l 3 has a pair of elliptical shaped guiding ribs 26 and 2l, the lower ends of which merge into the thickened portions of the wall of the pot i3 and the opposed adjacent sides of the ribs are co-extensive with the vertical channels 24 and 25 and form guiding means for each end of a yoke 28 which supports the bridge I1. The ends of the yoke 28 are guided into position by the guide ribs 26 and 21 through the vertical channels 24 and 25 and rest upon wall portions 29, 29. Upon the yoke being turned in a clockwise direction the ends of the yoke pass under projecting portions 33, 39 of the Wall of the pot I3 thereby holding the yoke in position against upward movement.

The upper portion I8 of the bridge piece I1 has an upwardly extending trunnion thereon with an internally threaded opening 3l therein Within which a threaded member 32 extends, the threaded member having a left-hand thread on its lower end, this member also extending through the yoke 28 with a pin 33 extending transversely therethrough at the upper end thereof. A ring 34 is mounted above the yoke 28 and an enlarged portion 35 is provided on the pin 32 upon which the yoke 28 normally rests when it is suspended on the pin 32. The upper end of the pot I3 has a nipple 33 mounted thereon in threaded engagement therewith, with a cover plate 31 being provided on the nipple, with a trunnion 33 at the upper end thereof through which a pin 39 extends in a transverse direction, each of its ends projecting outward from the trunnion 38.

Mounted in the concrete floor or ground is a ring All adapted to extend downwardly over the nipple 33, with a cover 4I therefor. The cover I has its top portion level with the ground or the concrete roadway, as the case may be, and serves as a protecting member for the foot valve to prevent dirt, refuse and the like from collecting over the foot valve and the retaining members therefor. The cover plate 4I has a recess 42 in the upper side thereof within which the bolt 43 is mounted. The bolt has a wedge member lill on the lower end thereof adapted to engage transversely extending pins l5 and ll mounted in downwardly extending lugs 41, 41 on the under side of the cover plate 4I. The inner surface of the ring 40 at the upper side is inclined inwardly as at 48 for a short distance from the top thereof, with the surface below this portion upwardly inclined as at 49, producing a circumferentially extended projecting portion 50 in which the pins @l5 and IIE engage to hold the cover plate in fixed position upon the ring 49.

A wrench is provided comprising a body portion 5I having a socket 52 at one end thereof adapted to receive the head of the bolt 33. At the opposite end of the wrench is a fixture 53 having a slot 54 in the end and a recess 55 therein adapted to fit over either the trunnion 38 or the member 32 and over the pins 39 and 33, respectively, for purposes hereinafter described. The wrench, such as described, is the only fitting necessary for the purposes of removing and replacing the foot valve.

In operation of the device, when it is desired to remove the foot valve, the Wrench is placed in the position shown in Figure l and the bolt turned in a counterclockwise direction, a righthand thread being provided on the bolt 43. This causes the wedge member G4 to travel downwardly, thereby loosening the pins 45 and 43 so the cover Il can be removed. The cover 4I is removed by reversing the wrench and fitting the end having the recess 55 therein over the bolt 43, and by turning the wrench the lugs at the side of the head pass into channels as shown by dotted lines in the cover plate 4I, and the Wrench is used to lift the cover from the ring 40.

The same end of the wrench is thereupon fitted over the trunnion 38 and pin 39, and the cover 31 removed from the nipple 36 and lifted out through the ring 4U. The cover 31 is detached from the wrench and the socket portion 54 is thereupon iitted over the pin 33 in the member 32. The member 32 is turned in a counterclockwise direction, which, because of the left-hand thread on the lower end of the member 32, causes the bridge member I1 to travel upward, thereby loosening this member from its seat and with continued movement the portion 35 on the member 32 engages against the upper face of the upper portion of the bridge piece I1, whereupon these members become locked together.

Continued turning in a counterclockwise direction turns the ends of the yoke 28 from under the edges 3U, 33 into alignment with the recesses 24 and 25, whereupon the assembly of foot valve,

pipe on which it is suspended, bridge piece I1 and yoke 28 may be lifted out'of the pot I3 for purposes of repair, inspection and the like.

When it is desired to replace the foot valve in position in the tank, the wrench is placed over the pin 33 and the device lowered into position f through the nipple 35 and into the pot I3. Thereupon, regardless of the position in which the foot valve and yoke may be held, the ends of the yoke engage upon the guides 26 and 21 and are thereby guided into position through the vertical channels 24 and 25 until the end of the yoke rests upon the wall portions 29, 29. The wrench is thereupon rotated in a clockwise direction which initially turns the yoke into its proper position because the yoke and bridge piece are y locked together, and thereafter continued turning of the wrench forces the bridge piece downwardly into engagement with the seat I3 inside of the pot. As the device is tightened down, the foot valve is again in proper position inside of the tank I9, with a tight connection being formed between the bridge member I1 and the seat I6 by means of a proper gasket so that leakage of oil is prevented between these surfaces and the device is in condition for operation.

It will thus be understood that in a very short Y;

time the foot valve may be removed from the tank and cleaned or repaired, as the case may be, and may be also replaced very easily and quickly without in any wise disturbing the roadway or dirt covering the tank ID.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a tank, a pot mounted thereon having yoke anchoring means therein, a bridge member, a casing secured to said bridge member, a foot valve in said casing, a yoke removably positioned in said pot, and connecting means between said yoke and said bridge.

2. In combination with a tank, a pot mounted thereon having yoke anchoring means therein, a bridge member, a. casing secured to said bridge member, a foot valve in said casing, a yoke removably positioned in said pot, and connecting means between said yoke and said bridge, the said connecting means being operable tov force the said bridge into fixed seated position in said pot.

3. In combination with a tank, a pot thereon having a bridge seat therein and yoke-receiving recesses at the sides thereof, a bridge member, a casing secured to said bridge member, a foot valve in said casing, a yoke having end portions adapted to be received into the said recesses, and a connecting member for said yoke and said bridge member, the said connecting member being rotatably mounted in said yoke and in threaded engagement with the said bridge member.

4. In combination with a tank, a pot having a bridge seat therein and yoke-receiving recesses at the sides thereof, a bridge member having a seat portion and a trunnion thereon having a recess therein, the wall of the trunnion forming the recess being threaded, a yoke the ends of which are adapted to seat in the said recesses, a pipe connected to said bridge member extending into the tank, a foot valve in said pipe, and a pin in threaded engagement with the bridge member at its lower end and rotatably mounted in the yoke.

5. In combination with a tank, a pot mounted thereon having a seat formed in its lower chamber and having yoke-receiving recesses at the sides thereof, a bridge member having a seat portion adapted to cooperate with the seat in the said pot, a pipe connected to said bridge member and extending into the said tank, a foot valve in the said pipe, a yoke having portions adapted to be received in the recesses in the pot, and a pin connecting the said bridge member and the yoke, the said pin being in threaded engagement with the bridge member and rotatable in said yoke and held against longitudinal movement in the said yoke.

6. In combination with a tank, a pot mounted thereon having a seat formed in its lower chamber and having yoke-receiving recesses at the sides thereof, a bridge member having a seat portion adapted to cooperate with the seat in the said pot, a pipe connected to said bridge member and extending into the said tank, a foot valve in the said pipe, a yoke having portions adapted to be received in the recesses of the pot, and a pin connecting the said bridge member and the yoke, the said pin being in threaded engagement with the bridge member and rotatable in said yoke and having enlarged portions on each side of the said yoke whereby longitudinal movement of the pin in the yoke is limited.

7. In combination with a tank, a pot mounted thereon having a seat formed in its lower chamber and having yoke-receiving recesses at the sides thereof, a bridge member having a seat portion adapted to cooperate with the seat in the said pot, a pipe connected to said bridge member and extending into the said tank, a foot valve in the said pipe, a yoke having portions adapted to be received in the recesses in the pot, guides for the said yoke on the Walls of the said pot, and a pin connecting the said bridge member and the yoke, the said pin being in threaded engagement with the bridge member and rotatable in said yoke and held against longitudinal movement in the said yoke.

8. In combination with a tank, a pot mounted thereon having a seat formed in its lower chamber and having yoke-receiving recesses at the sides thereof, a bridge member having a seat portion adapted to cooperate with the seat in the said pot, a pipe connected to said bridge member and extending into the said tank, a foot valve in the said pipe, a yoke having portions adapted to be received in the recesses in the pot, elliptical shaped guides on the walls of said pot, and a pin connecting the said bridge member and the yoke, the said pin being in threaded engagement with the bridge member and rotatable in said yoke and held against longitudinal movement in the said yoke.

9. In combination with a tank, a pot mounted thereon having a seat formed in its lower chamber and having yoke-receiving recesses at the sides thereof, a bridge member having a seat portion adapted to cooperate with the seat in the said pot, a pipe connected to said bridge member and extending into the said tank, a foot valve in the said pipe, a yoke having portions adapted to be received in the recesses in the pot, a pin connecting the said bridge member and the yoke, the said pin being in threaded engagement with the bridge member and rotatable in said yoke and held against longitudinal movement in the said yoke, and wrench-engaging means on said pin.

l0. In combination with a tank, a pot mounted thereon having a seat formed in its lower chamber and having yoke-receiving recesses at the sides thereof, a bridge member having a seat portion adapted to cooperate with the seat in the said pot, a pipe connected to said bridge member and extending into the said tank, a foot valve in the said pipe, a yoke having portions adapted to be received in the recesses in the pot, a pin connecting the said bridge member and the yoke, the said pin being in threaded engagement with the bridge member and rotatable in said yoke and held against longitudinal movement in the said yoke, a threaded nipple in engagement with the said pot, and a cover for the said nipple.

CHRISTOPHER GROEN. 

